The Modular Railroading certificate is the newest NMRA Achievement Program Certificate, having been approved by the NMRA Board of Directors on 27 July 2026. If you see any issues or inconsistencies with the requirements below or attached forms, please let Ray know at achiev [at] nmra.org. A FAQ section is forthcoming. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please contact Ray.
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Modular Railroading Achievement Program (AP) Certificate is to recognize individual model railroaders who demonstrate integrated excellence in the design, construction, operation, and public exhibition of modular model railroad sections (modules).
This certificate evaluates a modeler’s ability to successfully combine multiple disciplines - trackwork, electrical systems, scenery, structures, and operations - within the unique constraints of portable, interoperable, standards-based modular railroading. It recognizes not isolated components, but the holistic execution of a functioning modular system suitable for repeated public operation.
Scenery constructed for this certificate may be credited toward the required square footage of the Scenery Achievement Program certificate only where that scenery is separately evaluated as meeting the Scenery AP Merit Award standard, using the standard Scenery AP evaluation process (see Section B.5 and Evaluation Criteria (d) below). Achieving the Modular Railroading certificate does not, by itself, qualify a member for the Scenery Achievement Program certificate; the member must separately satisfy all Scenery certificate requirements, including the full required square footage, to receive that award.
B. REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the Certificate of Achievement in Modular Railroading, the applicant must:
- Construct and complete a minimum of three (3) operable modules conforming to an established modular standard (e.g., NMRA, T-TRAK, NTRAK, Free-mo, Free-moN, or similar).
- The modules must have a minimum total size of 44 sf for O scale, 32 sf for S scale, 24 sf for HO scale, 12 sf for N scale, 9 sf for Z scale, and 5 sf for T scale. Minimum square feet required for other scales are based on the ratio between that scale and 24 sf in HO scale.
- Each module must include:
- Standards compliant electrical and physical interfaces at connection points (connections between the member’s module(s) and adjacent modules of others adhering to the same standard).
- Operational trackwork.
- Reliable mechanical and electrical performance.
- Complete scenery and backdrop if appropriate to the module standard used.
- Modules must be displayed and operated successfully at a minimum of three (3) separate public exhibitions or NMRA-sanctioned events.
- Merit Requirement: Each module must earn a minimum score of 87.5 points out of 125 using the Modular AP Merit Scoring Matrix. The evaluation considers each of the three (3) required modules as a stand-alone body of work, emphasizing conformance to the relevant standard, the integration of the scene depicted within the module, its reliability, and craftsmanship.
Evaluation Criteria
- Module Construction (25 points) - Quality of framing, rigidity, surface preparation, joinery, durability for transport, and overall workmanship.
- Trackwork, Standards Compliance & Operation (30 points) - Alignment, geometry, turnout performance, standards compliance at interfaces, operational smoothness, and reliability under public operation. Mainline track conformance is critical as a failure to meet standards on this affects all attached modules. Use of flex track or hand-laid track beyond required interface sections is encouraged and rewarded.
- Electrical Systems & Control (20 points) Power distribution, wiring practices, connector and wiring type choice, strain relief, lighting circuits, control logic, sensor systems, sound systems, and operational reliability across multiple setups.
- Scenery, Terrain & Scene Integration (20 points) - Realistic terrain shaping, drainage and slope, landform transitions, ballast application and blending, ground cover, vegetation, scenic textures, and effective treatment of module edges and seams, particularly across adjoining modules representing the same scene. For purposes of this certificate's Merit Requirement, scenery is evaluated on the overall effectiveness of the module as constructed to the applicable modular standard used (including standards, such as T-TRAK, that may depict non-prototypical or fantasy settings), and is not evaluated to the Scenery Achievement Program Merit standard unless separately submitted for Scenery certificate credit as described in Section A.
- Structures, Details & Animation (20 points) - Quality, placement, provisions for durability, and integration of structures, bridges, roads, vehicles, and visual storytelling elements. Includes mechanical and electronic animation such as moving machinery, vehicles, smoke or steam effects, sound-equipped scenes, IR-or sensor-activated features, and other dynamic elements. Scratch-built, kit-bashed, or modified elements and well-integrated animation receive higher consideration.
- Presentation, Documentation & Public Readiness (10 points) Professional appearance, clarity of documentation, educational labeling where appropriate, and evidence of successful public exhibition and operation.
- Statement of Qualifications: The applicant must submit a Statement of Qualifications including documentation of the modules. This documentation must include:
- Written description of design intent, construction methods, and operational purpose.
- Copy of the standard to which the modules were constructed.
- Wiring diagram for each moduled.
- Minimum of five (5) color photographs of each module.
- Verification of public exhibition (Record and Validation form).
- Evaluation form signed by three (3) qualified AP evaluators.
Forms available for this category
Further Information
Contact the AP Committee General Manager at achiev [at] nmra.org, or your Region or Division Achievement Program Manager for more information.
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